Spending Christmas in Bali? There definitely won’t be snow, but if you can embrace the “Christmas on the Beach” vibes, you’ll have a great time. Here is everything you need to know about how to celebrate here.
Have brunch or dinner at a hotel or beach club. Pretty much all big resorts and beach clubs will have a Christmas day spread and many will have visits with Santa etc. Here in Sanur, The Hyatt has a big lunch but it is already sold out, so be sure to book early. Byrd House and Cafe Smorgas are other good options.
If you’re staying at a large resort, be sure to contact them to make a reservation for Christmas lunch. Here are some more options (you’ll need to make a reservation!):
W Hotel (Seminyak)
Aparatif Restaurant (Ubud)
Sundays Beach Club (Uluwatu)
Azul Beach Club (Kuta)
Bambu Indah (Ubud)
The Westin Resort (Nusa Dua)
The Apurva Kepinski Pala Restaurant (Nusa Dua)
The Conrad Bali SUKU Restauarant (Nusa Dua)
KU DE TA (Seminyak)
Hotel Indigo (Seminyak)
COMO Umma (Canggu)
Ayana Bali (Jimbaran)
Looking for holiday decor for your home or some small decorations that you can bring back after your holiday? You can buy lots of generic decor from places like Ace Hardware but if you want less plastic, more local options here are some I’ve found:
Macrame Christmas Trees and ornaments from Macrame Alvi Order via Facebook and they’ll deliver to your hotel or villa in Bali. Give them 1-2 weeks.
Xmas Shop in Ubud . Message on IG and they can show you what they have in stock or visit their shop in Ubud.
Bali Direct has lovely handmade angels made by a hearing and speaking impaired couple. Order online. Search “Christmas” on the Bali Direct site to find other options.
Another fun idea is to buy a DIY gingerbread house kit for your family to put together. You have to eat them fast here as the ants come in strong but they are super cute and fun. Here in Sanur you can purchase them at Cafe Smorgas (+62 813-5374-9982) or Lovin Oven (+62 812-1888-3343).
Want to buy toys for the kids once you get here instead of bringing them from home? I think the best toy stores are Toys Kingdom at Living World (you can order and they’ll deliver via Whatsapp +62 813-3767-4725) and PlayWorks in Icon Bali in Sanur. There are also Lego Stores at Icon Bali and Beachwalk.
If you’re coming from Australia, I can’t recommend the My Big Adventure books for Bali. These workbooks are so beautiful and will keep kids busy while also learning about Bali. Use code “ALISON” for a discount! (Sadly shipping for these books is limited to Australia.)
Looking for a gift for yourself? Ananda Soul has the most beautiful jewelry with the most thoughtful messaging. It is ethically made by women in Bali and supports women and children on the island.
Prefer an experience? Tell your family you want to join my Bali Women’s Trip in April!
Want to have an experience with your family instead of gifts this year? Check out Green Camp Family Camp (they still have space during holiday time in December) or an overnight experience with Astungkara Way.
Christmas church services are few and far between but you could check out the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Denpasar for a list of services (one or two Christmas services will be in English) or try Gateweay Community Church which holds a Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Hyatt in Sanur.
Leave a comment below with any other ideas I should add to my post!